The power of an airplane engine falls off in the rarefied atmosphere of great heights; its speed and climbing capacity decrease correspondingly. But if, on the contrary, the power is maintained, the airplane may develop extraordinary speed, because it then has less density of air to impede its progress. Accordingly, many inventors have sought maintenance of power at altitude by using centrifugal air compressors to keep the pressure and density of the air in the engine at a constant value. Such compressors have introduced great complexity and additional weight into the power...
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